Rural Self-Employment

The overarching goal of this project was to enhance the capacity of VR (Vocational Rehabilitation) and AIVRS (American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services) counselors to support consumers interested in self-employment. To achieve this, we utilized the Context, Input, Process, and Product Evaluation Model (CIPP; Stufflebeam & Shinkfield, 2007) to evaluate the VR Self-Employment Guide within both VR and AIVRS settings. This evaluation aimed to refine the materials to ensure they are responsive, appropriate, useful, and prepared for future intervention efficacy research. We conducted interviews with key agency informants to gather insights on self-employment procedures and strategies for improving outcomes. These discussions also focused on identifying the most suitable placement for the VR Self-Employment Guide within the VR delivery process. Following the initial interviews, we followed up with informants to assess how they had utilized the new resource.